China's TCL, better known as Alcatel, has launched a new flagship smartphone - the Idol X+. Its name doesn't deceive you - it's an updated version of the Idol X. The differences between the two devices are an eight-core CPU, a battery upgrade (from 2000 to 2500mAh) and a small increase in thickness. At 7,9mm the Idol X+ is a little thicker than the Idol X's 7mm, but the + sign in its name is no accident, after all.

While its predecessor boasted a quad-core CPU from MediaTek, the Idol X+ is the first device to feature the Taiwanese chip-maker's octa-core MT6592 processor that, not long ago, got Qualcomm all worked up. According to the results from CF Bench, which you can see in the slide-show, the Idol X+ is more than two times faster than the previous model, which seems in-line with the doubling of processing cores.

The eight-headed beast at the heart of the Idol X+ is complemented by 2GB RAM, 13MP f/2.0 rear camera and a 5-inch 1080p IPS display. Unlike its predecessor, the Idol X+ probably supports LTE networks, thanks to the MT6592's built in modem. However, we are only speculating on this matter.

Previous rumors on the Idol X+ predicted that its package will include both a wristband and a smart-watch, but ultimately, the smartphone is accompanied by the Boom Band - a wristband with a Bluetooth chip that acts as a proximity alarm and activity tracker. We'll have to see if the Boom Band will make the wearable market explode. It's a safe bet, though, that an Alcatel smart-watch will eventually appear.

The Idol X+ and its companion wristband will be sold for about US$330 (CN 1,999) unsubsidized, which sounds like a steal. However, availability outside China is still in question. As far as we know, the Idol X still hasn't made it to US carriers.

7 Comments

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Specs are good, but the design is basic, nothing fancy. The front looks like a Vivo phone and the back looks like a Galaxy S4 with an ugly TCL logo on it. If they can't make it fancy, at least put the "Alcatel" brand on the front and the back, that will look better.

That's your opinion. But in my opinion, it looks basic, nothing fancy. Sure, the bezels are thin and the phone is slim, but the phone kinda looks like a ripoff from a Vivo phone (front) and the Galaxy S4 (back).

I don't hate Alcatel or TCL, I like their phones. But this one looks basic. But kudos to them for jumping to the next level of revolution, octa core processor.

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